A Conversation with Ashim Bakshi, Partner & Clinical Director of the Hand and Orthopedic Rehab Clinics

May 15, 2020

As our nation continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, physical and occupational therapists are urgently working to ensure patients in need of therapy services are able to continue receiving care.

As the physical and occupational therapy community gains a better understanding of the challenges ahead, we spoke with The Hand and Orthopedic Rehab Clinics Partner & Clinical Director Ashim Bakshi, MHS OTR CHT about the impact of this crisis on his patients, his therapists, and his practice.

We asked Ashim the following questions:

What are your topline observations about how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted physical and occupational therapy patients and their therapists? (00:24)

Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis and subsequent statewide “stay at home orders,” how dramatic has the drop been in in-person physical and occupational therapy visits across your clinics? (4:35)

The patients most at risk of COVID-19 transmission, such as older Medicare beneficiaries, are often the most in need of physical and occupational therapy. How is your practice reaching Medicare beneficiaries who aren’t visiting clinics right now? (6:15)

How do you anticipate this crisis will impact your business long-term? (8:02)

We know that therapists face another big threat at the end of this year – an 8% Medicare payment cut. Taken together with the consequences of the present crisis, how will these cuts impact your practice if they take effect? (10:49)

What can Congress do to help physical and occupational therapists? (13:45)

Congress has the opportunity to prevent the impending Medicare cuts to specialty services before more seniors lose access to critical care. By waiving the budget neutrality requirement in the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) reimbursement changes for 2021, lawmakers can save therapy service reimbursement from the 8% cut while also allowing for other code increases to go into effect.